Friday, 11 March 2011

Showpeople (10): Judy's duets

I was far too young of course to see any of Judy Garland's early 60s tv shows, but a programme of duets from it makes for fascinating viewing now - and dvds are available too! Fantastic seeing the young Streisand with Judy and the obvious respect and rapport the two have for each other - and Judy with the likes of Peggy Lee and Lena Horne, Bobby Darin and young Jack Jones [below] (Michael Buble? who he? - it's reminded me I liked an album of Jones' back in the late 60s "Without Her", a nice contrast to all that Doors and Airplane stuff). There's also Judy with Ethel, Mel Torme, and of course Liza ....

I have read though the book Mel Torme (who worked on the shows) wrote on his unhappy time on the Judy show, as though settling scores with Judy, which though mean-spirited also showed how demanding she could be. But Judy looks good here - her weight see-sawed a lot then, but in '63 she looks her best, as she did in that last film from then I COULD GO ON SINGING. This has also reminded me of how different and fantastic young Barbra was then - no wonder she was the new sensation and we rushed out for those early albums of hers. I didn't have to wait too long to see her in 1966 in the London FUNNY GIRL .... touching too to see those troupers Judy and Mickey still in full flow.

My 1962 TOWN Marilyn cover magazine, when I was 16

My 1962 Antonioni magazine, when I was 16, I still have them.

About Me

Just retired, writing memoir and movie reviews and star profiles on imdb. I started going to the movies aged 8 in Ireland in 1954, and moved to London in 1964, when 18, just in time for Swinging London. [It certainly did, from seeing Streisand in Funny Girl in 1966, in the front row, to Aretha at her peak, The Doors and Jefferson Airplane all-nighter at the Roundhouse, and 2001 on acid... and meeting a lot of my favourites: Bogarde, Loren, Remick, Heston, Bergman etc.] Commenting here on all kinds of movies from art-house (I am an Antonioni kind of guy) to sword-and-sandal, re-living the 50s and 60s and 70s and going back to the 30s and 40s - but mainly loving the late '50s and early '60s. Into English and international movies as well as those Italian, French, American and others....then there's books, music and everything else. Thanks to imdb pals Daryl and Timshelboy for leading me further into neglected hollywood classics and the more outre international choice items. My IMDb profiles are at: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur7940682/boards/profile/?preview=1